Stephen W. Allread of Darke County, Ohio
Source: The History of Darke County, Ohio by:
W. H. Beers & Co., published
1880, page 727.
S. W. Allread, farmer and merchant; P.O. Delisle; was the son of Isaac and Lucy Allread. His father, Isaac, was born in Maryland and moved with his parents to North Carolina where he remained till he came to Butler County [Ohio] when he was 18 years of age. Isaac was in the War of 1812 and served all through it and then returned safely home.
Lucy (Emerson), Isaac’s wife, was born in the State of Vermont and came with her parents to Butler County, Ohio, when 9 years of age. They were united in marriage in 1816 and raised seven children: four boys and three girls.
Mr. S. W. Allread, the subject of this sketch, was the eldest of his father’s family. He left home when 11 years of age and worked at various places until 16 years of age when his father bound him out to Captain Samuel Dick, till 21 years of age, in Butler County, Ohio, where he lived till he became of age, then worked for him two years longer for wages. He then worked here and there and rented farms till he was 27 years of age, which was in 1843 when he united in marriage with Martha Ann Van Lieu, who was born and raised in Butler County.
They followed farming in that county for twelve years, or till 1855 when they moved to Darke County, Van Buren Township, where he still followed the life of a farmer for four years. He entered into the mercantile trade which, together with farming, he has followed to the present time. He has bought and sold several farms and by these transactions made considerable money. He is now the owner of 87 acres of good land in Delisle where he now lives.
He is associated in the mercantile trade in Delisle with W. Reed, and is also carrying on an extensive trade in buying and shipping grain. Allread is now 63 years of age with good health; the father of nine children, seven are still living: Isaac F., Elvira, Oliver M., George D., Amanda, John E. and Tabitha J. Five are married and two, single, live at home. Mr. Allread has taken quite an active part in political matters being a staunch Democrat and having held several offices of trust; as Township Trustee, Assessor and Treasurer and in the County has been Infirmary Director for six years, thus showing that he has the confidence of the community.
